Get an early start to your weekend with Waterfest

People arrive by boat for the Waterfest festivities at the Leach Amphitheater last August. The popular summer concert series kicks off tonight, Thursday, June 19.
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JEANNETTE MERTEN/FOR OSHKOSH NORTHWESTERN MEDIA
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Everyone loves Fridays. But when summer rolls into Wisconsin’s Event City, there’s no way we can wait that extra day. In Oshkosh, the weekend starts on Thursday nights.

We may be the only community in America that has perfected the concept of a three-and-a-half-day-weekend (with a little work in between). And depending on how you feel this Friday morning, you can either thank or blame the good folks at Waterfest.

They’ve been tempting us to stay out a little later than normal and have a little extra fun since 1985. For the most part it’s been three decades of rocking the Fox River on Thursday nights.

Waterfest kicks off its 29th season today at the Leach Amphitheater in what’s being dubbed the Summer Solstice Party. Fox Valley favorites the Cool Waters Band open the night followed by Vic Ferrari and Sam Llanas (of the BoDeans). Gates open at 6 p.m. General admission is $12 before 7 p.m. or $15 after 7 p.m. They are offering two-for-one admission before 6 p.m. and teachers are admitted free all night with school ID. Admission is free for U.S. Armed Service Veterans and youth age 12 and younger (with a parent or guardian) all season long.

There’s no Waterfest on July 3 or 10 (don’t worry, see below for an alternative to starting your weekend early) but they return in a big way when the “Under the Sun” tour lands at the Leach on Thursday, July 17, featuring Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray, Blues Traveler and Uncle Kracker.

The following week is dubbed “Waterfest Weekend” and includes three shows – Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. First up is Sister Hazel with support from Road Trip and WifEE & The HuZZ Band on July 14. Friday, July 25, features The Guilty Wanted, Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts and the Gin Blossoms. And on Saturday July 26, get ready for the Waterfest premier of Ted Nugent. Gates open at 5 p.m. with opening acts The Traveling Suitcase and The Kings.

They’ll take a couple weeks off to recover before coming back with the season ending double feature of Hairball! on Thursday, Aug. 21, and America on Friday, Aug. 22.

Some of the shows will have special patio access seating and many offer discounted admissions. Check out all the details at www.Water Fest.org.

That still leaves the burning question of what are we to do on Thursday night when there’s no Waterfest?

The answer is simple: keep coming downtown to enjoy live entertainment on the Fox River every Thursday night this summer.

Seven venues along the Fox River have teamed up to present “Thursdays Between the Bridges.” They’ve chartered a paddlewheel riverboat and hired a handful of bands to travel on top of the boat entertaining everyone on the Oshkosh River Walk from 7 to 9 p.m. on non-Waterfest Thursdays.

Fratello’s Waterfront Restaurant, the UW Oshkosh Alumni Welcome and Conference Center, Mahoney’s, Becket’s Restaurant, Ground Round at River’s Edge, Brooklyn Grill and Dockside Tavern will offer discounts and entertainment. You can literally follow the Band on a Boat up the river and stop at each location to enjoy weekly specials, contests and prizes.

The schedule includes: Sonic Circus on July 3; The Dead Horses on July 10; Andy’s Automatics on July 31; Paul Robert & The Hall of Famers on Aug. 7; The Presidents on Aug. 14; and the Big Back Yard on Aug. 28.

For additional details on what each venue will offer, find Thursdays Between the Bridges on Facebook.

Most importantly, support live entertainment on the Fox River, enjoy our wonderful Oshkosh River Walk and continue to make Thursday night something special in Oshkosh.

Of course, there’s plenty to do other days of the week as well.

Ardy & Ed’s is presenting “Grease” as part the Free Friday Movie at the Time Theater, 445 N. Main St. It starts at 8 p.m.

The Oshkosh Saturday Farmers Market returns from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in downtown. The Time will show “The Neverending Story” as part of Saturdays @ 7 ($3 admission) and a new Miss Wisconsin gets crowned at the Alberta Kimball Auditorium on Saturday night.

This weekend is also the 19th annual Brews N’ Blues fundraiser at the Leach Amphitheater. From 4 to 8 p.m. enjoy samples of great craft and home brewed beers and live music by Tin Sandwich and Swamp Shag featuring Chris Aaron and Jim Schwall. Tickets are $35 in advance or $45 at the gate. All proceeds support the charitable efforts of the Oshkosh Jaycees.

Finally, Tuesday is the kickoff to Country USA! Get your boots and cowboy hats ready because Oshkosh will welcome more than 160,000 music fans as well as stars like Luke Bryan, Brantley Gilbert, Gary Allan, Florida Georgia Line and Carrie Underwood.

The weekend has to start on Thursdays so Event City has enough time to squeeze in all of this action.

Have fun Oshkosh!

“Event City Guide” is written by staff at the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau for The Northwestern. For details on these and other events, visit the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau website at VisitOshkosh.com.

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Get a rundown of what’s happneing in the Event City Minute on thenorthwestern.com